Civil Rights for African Americans

By Lindzey Butler

Civil Rights for African Americans

By Lindzey Butler

American Civil Rights Movement

The civil rights movement was to protest racial segregation and discrimination in the U.S. Many long efforts to abolish slavery and resist racial oppression, started in the mid-1950s. As a result of the Civil War, slaves were emancipated and were granted basic rights through the passing of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendments. However during the next century, struggles to secure these civil rights continued. 1865- 1877, is recognized as the reconstruction period. AS a result of non-violent protest, racial segregation in the south was broken throughout public facilities. Although the passage for the civil right was victorious, the militian black activates saw their struggle as a liberation or freedom movement. they were no longer seeking only civil rights, but they were confronting economic and political problems of past racial oppression

Rosa Parks is one of the most famous activists during the civil rights era. The initial cause of the Montgomery bus boycott was when Rosa refused to give up her seat to a white man, therefore breaking the law for not giving a seat towards the bus to a white bus rider. Once Parks was arrested and jailed, The African American community in Montgomery boycotted all city buses. The boycott lasted over a year showing the unity and determination of black residents and inspiring other African Americans throughout America.

Martin Luther King Jr is one of the most known advocates for nonviolent change through African Americans most crucial period against racial segregation. After also being arrested during the bus boycott in Montgomery, King began to speak and organize nonviolent protests and demonstrations to draw attention to racial oppression and demand civil rights protection for the African Americans. Kings "I have a dream" speech inspired American citizens all over the country. His speech was so powerful that that congress enacted the civil rights act in 1964. He then was rewarded with the Noble Peace Prize. King is the icon for the civil rights movement.